The Role of the California Medical Board
The California Medical Board, of which I am a newly appointed member, is the State agency that licenses medical doctors, investigates complaints, disciplines those who violate the law, conducts physician evaluations, and facilitates rehabilitation where appropriate.
The Board performs similar functions for affiliated healing arts professions including registered dispensing opticians, spectacle lens dispensers, contact lens dispensers, licensed midwives, and research psychoanalysts.
Currently there are two parts to the Medical Board: the Division of Licensing and the Division of Medical Quality. The Board is comprised of 21 members — 12 physicians and 9 public members appointed by the Governor; 1 public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and 1 public member appointed by the Senate Rules Committee. I was appointed by the Senate Rules Committee and will serve from 2007 through 2011.
There is pending state legislation that would merge the two divisions of the Board and reduce the number of members with the goal of making it more efficient.
The Board has a number of committees and Task Forces which do a great deal of the work of the board: Executive Committee, Diversion, International Education, Midwifery, Physician Recognition, Public Education, Medical Errors, Access to Care, Cultural and Linguistic Competency, and Strategtic Planning.
Meetings are held quarterly and at locations throughout the State. Just last week the Board met in San Franciso. The next meeting is November 1 and 2 in San Diego.
The mission of the Medical Board of California is to protect healthcare consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied healthcare professions and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act.
The Board performs similar functions for affiliated healing arts professions including registered dispensing opticians, spectacle lens dispensers, contact lens dispensers, licensed midwives, and research psychoanalysts.
Currently there are two parts to the Medical Board: the Division of Licensing and the Division of Medical Quality. The Board is comprised of 21 members — 12 physicians and 9 public members appointed by the Governor; 1 public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and 1 public member appointed by the Senate Rules Committee. I was appointed by the Senate Rules Committee and will serve from 2007 through 2011.
There is pending state legislation that would merge the two divisions of the Board and reduce the number of members with the goal of making it more efficient.
The Board has a number of committees and Task Forces which do a great deal of the work of the board: Executive Committee, Diversion, International Education, Midwifery, Physician Recognition, Public Education, Medical Errors, Access to Care, Cultural and Linguistic Competency, and Strategtic Planning.
Meetings are held quarterly and at locations throughout the State. Just last week the Board met in San Franciso. The next meeting is November 1 and 2 in San Diego.
The mission of the Medical Board of California is to protect healthcare consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied healthcare professions and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act.
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